Part 45 (1/2)

”No, it won't,” was Harris' reply, ”but one man can guard it well enough. Besides, we have the bridge. We can steer the vessel where we will.”

”As long as the engines run we can,” agreed von Ludwig. ”But unless I'm greatly mistaken the Germans will soon stop them.”

He was right; for a few moments later the battering at the door of the companionway ceased and the engines ceased work.

”Well, we can't go any place now, sir,” said Frank, leaving the wheel and approaching von Ludwig and Harris at the companionway.

Jack also came up to them.

”You're right,” agreed von Ludwig, ”and that's not the worst of it. The German cruiser probably is in pursuit of us. If they sight us we are done for.”

Came more violent blows on the door over the companionway, followed by a shot from below.

Jack sprang aside as a bullet plowed its way through the hard wood.

”We'll have to stand to one side,” he said. ”Otherwise, they are likely to drop one of us.”

”The door will stand considerable battering,” said von Ludwig. ”There is but one thing I can think of. We shall have to desert the s.h.i.+p.”

”In what, a rowboat?” asked Frank, with some sarcasm.

”Hardly,” returned von Ludwig; ”but I have discovered that there is a high-powered motor boat aboard. We can launch that and move off.”

”And as soon as the Germans break out here, they'll come after us and shoot us full of holes,” said Harris.

”Well, that's true enough, too,” agreed von Ludwig. ”Of course, if we had an hour's start we might get through. But the door won't hold that long.”

Harris had been turning a plan over in his mind.

”If you please, sir,” he said slowly at last, ”I have a plan that may work.”

”Let's hear it,” said Frank.

”Yes; let's have it,” said von Ludwig.

”Well,” said Harris, ”one man, with a couple of revolvers, should be able to guard this pa.s.sageway for an hour without trouble. He can shoot the Germans down as fast as they come up. My plan is this. Let one man stay behind on guard. The others can put off in the motor boat.”

”But the one man will die,” said Frank.

”Of course,” said Harris, simply. ”That shall be my job.”

”Not much,” said Jack. ”I'll pick that job for myself.”

”Not while I'm here you won't,” declared Frank. ”I'm plenty big to guard the companionway.”

”The plan you suggest, Harris,” von Ludwig said quietly, ”is the only one, so far as I can see, that promises any degree of success. In my pocket are papers that must reach the British admiralty at the earliest possible moment.”

”Then there is no reason why you should think of staying, sir,” said Harris.

”Wait,” said von Ludwig. ”In a venture such as this, there is no reason one man should be called upon to sacrifice himself more than another.